Scraping Device for Scratch Cards

ABSTRACT

A scraping device capable of scraping a scratch-off coating off a scratch card is disclosed. The scraping device includes an elongated element, and an extension element inclined at an angle to the elongated element. The elongated element includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. Moreover, the extension element includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The extension element extends from the proximal end portion of the elongated element such that the first end of the extension element is integral with the proximal end portion of the elongated element. Further, the second end of the extension element is a flat end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a scraping device, and, moreparticularly, to a scraping device capable of scraping scratch-offcoatings off scratch cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

These days, various types of scratch cards such as gambling cards,lottery cards, quiz cards and Personal Identification Number (PIN) codecards are common in commercial and social activities. Typically, ascratch card has a printed matter, such as prizes, answers and codes,thereon. The printed matter may be concealed by a removable coatingformed on the printed matter. The removable coating may be made of amaterial such as a latex material. The removable coating of the scratchcard may be scraped off the scratch card, thereby revealing the printedmatter. The removable coating may be hereinafter referred to as a‘scratch-off coating.’

Conventionally, the scratch-off coating may be scraped off a scratchcard by means of various items including a coin, a key, a fingernail andthe like. These items are irregular in shape and generally not designedfor scraping the scratch-off coating off the scratch card. Further, theuse of the fingernail for scraping purpose may be troublesome and hurtthe fingernail. Moreover, the use the items like the key, the coin orthe fingernail may destroy the printed matter on the scratch card.

Currently, a variety of scraping devices are available, which arespecifically designed for scraping a scratch-off coating off a scratchcard. However, these scraping devices have numerous limitations. Forexample, these scraping devices include an irregular end structure forscraping the scratch-off coating, thereby limiting the use thereof.Moreover, these scraping devices are not able to provide a convenientgrip to a user for holding the scraping device.

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, there is a need for a scrapingdevice, which avoids use of a coin, a finger nail, a key or the like,for scraping a scratch-off coating of a scratch card. Further, thescraping device should be capable of scraping the scratch-off coatingwithout destroying printed matter of the scratch card. Furthermore, thescraping device should be of lightweight construction and convenient tocarry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, thegeneral purpose of the present invention is to provide a scraping deviceconfigured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and toovercome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a scrapingdevice, which is capable of removing a scratch-off coating off a scratchcard without destroying printed matter of the scratch card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a scraping devicewhich can be easily and conveniently carried.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a scrapingdevice which is light in weight.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a scraping device capable ofscraping a scratch-off coating off a scratch card. The scraping devicecomprises an elongated element and an extension element. The elongatedelement comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. Theextension element comprises a first end, and a second end opposite tothe first end. The extension element is inclined at an angle to theelongated element and extends from the proximal end portion of theelongated element as the first end of the extension element is integralwith the proximal end portion of the elongated element. The second endof the extension element is a flat end.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along withthe various features of novelty that characterize the present invention,are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forma part of this present invention. For a better understanding of thepresent invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objectsattained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likeelements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a scraping device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front view of a scraping device along with a string and akey ring, according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrativepurposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. Itshould be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limitedto a particular scraping device, as shown and described. It isunderstood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents arecontemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but theseare intended to cover the application or implementation withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the claims of the presentinvention.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote anyorder, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish oneelement from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced item.

The present invention discloses a scraping device for use with a scratchcard. More specifically, the scratch card includes a printed matter, forexample, codes, answers, PIN numbers, and the like, thereon. The printedmatter is concealed by forming a removable scratch-off coating on theprinted matter. The scratch-off coating may be scraped off the scratchcard by means of the scraping device disclosed herein in a convenientand reliable manner.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a scraping device 100, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The scraping device100 may be made of suitable materials such as acrylic, plastic, metaland wood with sufficient strength for carrying out a scraping operation.The scraping device 100 includes an elongated element 102 and anextension element 104.

The elongated element 102 may be of any three dimensional shape. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the elongated element 102 iscylindrical in shape. However, the elongated element 102 may also bemade of other three dimensional shapes such as a cuboid. The elongatedelement 102 includes a proximal end portion 106 and a distal end portion108. A length of the elongated element 102 between the proximal endportion 106 and the distal end portion 108 is capable of providing aconvenient grip to a user for holding the scraping device 100. It willbe apparent to a person ordinary skilled in the art that due to anelongated structure of the elongated element 102, the user canconveniently hold the scraping device 100.

The scraping device 100 further includes the extension element 104extending from the proximal end portion 106 of the elongated element102. Moreover, the extension element 104 is inclined at an angle ‘α’ (asshown in FIG. 1) to the length of the elongated element 102. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the angle ‘α’ is an obtuse angle.

The extension element 104 includes a first end 110 and a second end 112such that the first end 110 of the extension element 104 is integralwith the proximal end portion 106 of the elongated element 102. Thesecond end 112 of the extension element 104 is a flat end. Morespecifically, the second end 112 of the extension element 104 isparallel to a generally planar surface of the scratch-off coating of thescratch card. Accordingly, the second end 112 of the extension element104 is capable of providing uniform scraping of the scratch-off coatingof the scratch card, thereby facilitating easy removal of thescratch-off coating off the scratch card without destroying the printedmatter thereon.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the extension element 104 isa separate add-on component. Accordingly, the extension element 104 maybe attached to the elongated element 102 such that the extension element104 is integral to the elongated element 102. Moreover, the extensionelement 104 may be constructed in a three dimensional shape. Preferably,the extension element 104 is cylindrical in shape. Alternatively, theextension element 104 may assume any other three dimensional shape suchas a cuboid.

As disclosed herein, the scraping device 100 may be configured invariety of sizes and configurations. In a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the elongated element 104 of the scraping device 100may be of about four inches in length and about ⅞ inches in diameter.Further, the scraping device 100 may be designed in a variety of colors.

Referring to FIG. 2, a front view of the scraping device 100 is shown,according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment of the present invention, the distal end portion 108 ofthe elongated element 102 includes a hole 114. The hole 114 is capableof securing the scraping device 100 to a connector, for example, a hook,a string, a clip and the like. The connector facilitates suspension ofthe scraping device 100 at a convenient location, for example, to asuspension hook. Moreover, the connector, for example, a string 116 maybe further attached to a key ring 118, thereby facilitating easyaccessibility of the scraping device 100. The scraping device 100 may beconveniently carried by a user either in a pocket, a bag or the like.

Various embodiments of the present invention offer following advantages.The present invention provides an efficient and reliable tool forremoving the scratch-off coating off a scratch card. More specifically,the scraping device disclosed herein is capable of removing thescratch-off coating off the scratch card without destroying the matterprinted beneath the scratch-off coating. Moreover, the scraping deviceprovides a convenient grip to a user holding the scraping device due toan elongated structure thereof. Further, the scraping device of thepresent invention is light in weight. Accordingly, the scraping deviceis convenient to carry and use.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thepresent invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the present invention and its practicalapplication, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to bestutilize the present invention and various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isunderstood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents arecontemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but suchomissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application orimplementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimsof the present invention.

1. A scraping device capable of scraping a scratch-off coating of ascratch card, the scraping device comprising: an elongated elementcomprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and anextension element inclined at an angle and extending from the proximalend portion of the elongated element, the extension element comprising afirst end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the firstend of the extension element is integral with the proximal end portionof the elongated element and the second end of the extension element isa flat end, wherein the flat end of the extension element is capable ofproviding uniform scraping of the scratch-off coating of the scratchcard.
 2. The scraping device of claim 1, further comprising a holeconfigured on the distal end portion of the scraping device, the holecapable of securing a connector to the apparatus.
 3. The scraping deviceof claim 1, wherein the scraping device is made of a plastic material.4. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein the scraping device is madeof an acrylic material.
 5. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein theelongated element and the extension element are cylindrical in shape.